The foundations laid in early childhood are critical for later emotional and mental wellness. These foundations for healthy development include sufficient nutrition, a safe environment, and warm, supportive interactions with caregivers. Since infants and toddlers form around 700 neural connections per second, stressful–or “adverse”–experiences during these years have the potential to influence brain development, especially if the experiences are ongoing or cumulative. Ongoing adverse experiences can contribute to developmental delays, including emotional difficulties. It is estimated that between 10 and 14 percent of children through age 5 suffer from an emotional or behavioral disturbance. This Child Trends 5 focuses on mental wellness for infants and toddlers birth through 3 years old.

All adults who spend significant time with young children have a responsibility to help them develop to their full potential. That’s why we focus here on caregivers, a term that includes all adults who have regular contact with infants and toddlers–such as parents, grandparents, foster parents, child care providers, etc.

3. Having appropriate expectations of young children's development is important.

Emotional development is a critical component of brain development that is not always emphasized as much as cognitive, physical, or verbal development. Each person’s development is unique, but caregivers should understand general social-emotional milestones–such as copying caregivers’ actions–in order to keep expectations appropriate and monitor potential red flags. Luckily, there are research-based resources available that provide tips and guidance for what to expect and how to encourage healthy emotional development–such as by paying attention to what an infant is trying to communicate through body language, and by establishing and sticking to routines.

4. Parents and caregivers should be mindful of their own emotional well-being, seeking support if they need it.

It’s important for caregivers to consider their own mental health needs as well as the needs of the young children in their care. Infants and children whose caregivers suffer from mental illness are generally at a higher risk of developing mental illness or social-emotional problems, because of inherited genetics and interactions with the caregiver. But, the potential outcomes of having a parent with a mental illness largely depend on the severity of the illness, as well as the degree to which the parent has sought treatment and been able to manage symptoms. Caregivers who effectively treat their mental illness may lower the effects of the illness on their children. Although parenting can be particularly challenging for caregivers with mental illness, all caregivers at times likely experience stress from parenting or other life events. In these challenging moments, it is helpful to know that caregivers have many resources available to them, varying from online handouts, to specialized clinical services. (Please see the list of resources below for further guidance.)

5. Young children are resilient and, if properly supported, can overcome potentially traumatic events.